Gautamiputra Satakarni, starring Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna, aspires to be a Baahubali but falls short of it. Watch the trailer that was launched on Friday.

It’s the season of historical – after the success of Baahubali, comes another historical from Telugu filmdom, Gautamiputra Satakarni. The film’s trailer was released on Friday.

Starring Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna, it tells the story of Sattavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni who ruled central India around the 2nd century CE and his battles with Saka rulers of western India (the trailer mentions Sindh). Only it doesn’t say who these invaders are – the tag ‘foreigner’ suffices. And Satakarni must save and cleanse ‘Bharatha’ of them.

There are epic battles to be fought and the clothes, weapons, elephants and horses et al, give a feel of the times. Sadly, the graphics don’t match up to Baahubali. Also, an ageing Balakrishna looks jaded as a warrior. At a time when Rana Daggubati and Prabhas (lead cast of Baahubali) have rewritten expectations from period films, Balakrishna doesn’t fit the bill. Shriya Saran and Hema Malini play his wife and mother respectively in the film.

Directed by Krish, the film’s music is by Chirantan Bhatt. Gautamiputra Satakarni is set for an early 2017 release.